Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Windsor Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Households have a choice of fuels that can be used when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the most common choice in Windsor, used by 99,824 or 35% of residents. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Windsor households is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Windsor County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (in Number of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Windsor
Oil has become losing popularity in Windsor. In the 10 years since 2015, the number of households using oil dropped from 108,532 to 99,824, a 8% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Windsor
Between 2015 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel increased from 40,280 to 57,954, a 44% change. Comparing 2015 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel shot up from 45,256 to 55,373, a 22% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Windsor
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are gaining popularity in Windsor. Since 2015, the number of homes heating with electricity ramped up from 12,610 to 36,366, a 188% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Windsor
The most eco-friendly heating option is solar. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 1,820 homes in Windsor are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 592% gain from 2015, when 263 homes incorporated active solar heating.
Windsor County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Windsor County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Windsor’s overall oil usage fluctuates yearly based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside drops, homes’ boilers need to burn more and more heating oil to maintain the temperature that the thermostat is set to. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Windsor was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Windsor County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Windsor County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Windsor residences heating with fuel oil, selecting which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Windsor is an important decision.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who value a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Windsor. Full service companies such as or offer homeowners annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and boiler repair. With an automatic heating oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The household does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: also referred to as “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for clients who are looking to save money. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when you're running low. Examples of 2 Windsor cash heating oil companies serving Windsor include BART Energy Llc and Jam Fuel Llc.
Windsor Number Two Heating Oil Company By The Numbers: Oil Companies Serving Windsor: 7 companies .
Average Number of Windsor Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 14261
Windsor Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences in Windsor heat their homes with oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Windsor temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Windsor residences depend on heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Windsor County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Windsor County Households | Windsor County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
34 Windsor Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Windsor houses the last heating season, the Windsor community relies on its 34 oil companies when temperatures dip. Oil delivery is a two step process: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Windsor, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the number two heating oil to residences and companies throughout Windsor and the surrounding area.
